Today I started using version 0.97d. However, when I clicked on material editor, I could see the "attributes" button, but when I clicked on it the list was blank. Nothing was there. Am I making a mistake in something? Did I forget to follow any step?

It's correct there where no attributes in the list, because you need to add them yourself. Go to attributes and hit 'new' now your can add an attribute like the ones found at the link headwax posted. i.e. for reflections like a mirror you add the attribute 'specular' hit ok and typ in 'reflection' in the string type. Your material will now reflection the surrounding, the amount of reflection is controlled by the specular value (1=mirror, 0=no reflection).